Submitted by Pastor Brad Dush, Fairfax United Methodist Church

Have you ever experienced a tough day? Week? Month? Year? We all have had a tough or challenging event that brought us distress. Any adverse event can lead to a spiral that brings our spirits down. It can cause stress or set off depression. A word comes to mind: helpless. So the question becomes, have you ever felt helpless? I know I have felt moments in my life where I felt hopeless. I know I am not alone. It can be said it is Biblical to feel helpless. In Romans 5:6, the Apostle Paul says, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us, sinners.” Interestingly, Paul notes we are helpless. Does this mean we are weak? Absolutely not. It is a simple fact we as human beings are helpless and, as Paul says, “utterly helpless.”

Most of us know the words to the hymn “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.” “I am weak, but Thou art strong, Jesus, keep me from all wrong. I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, dear Lord, close to Thee.” It is just a hymn, but the words ring true: we are weak, but Jesus is strong! If we admit we are weak, we take the first step to having hope to counteract the helplessness. The verse just before the one above speaks to hope, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Paul seems to indicate in the fifth chapter of Romans we are utterly helpless, but we have hope in Jesus!

I know I need to remind myself sometimes that the feeling of helplessness is natural in many ways when it gets rough. The key is knowing and reminding myself there is hope in Jesus Christ.